1413-11-10, Westminster

Commitment to Thomas Clarell, by mainprise of Richard Hastynges, chivaler, of the county of York and Hugh Shirley, chivaler, of the county of Nottingham, of the keeping of the county of Lincoln with the issues and profits belonging to two farms, the one called post terras datas and the other called firma comitatus numero annuatim, and to the profits of the county ; to hold the same from Michaelmas last during the king's pleasure, rendering 200/. yearly at the Exchequer by equal portions at Easter and Michaelmas, without any payment or allowance being made to him for his fee ; notwithstanding (1) that the king on 6 November last committed the keeping of the county to him during pleasure, on condition that he rendered yearly the farms due to the king and answered at the Exchequer for the king's debts and all other things pertaining to the office of sheriff, and (2) that Edward III, on learning that all sheriffs of the county since 18 Edward I [recte II] had accounted as agents and not as farmers, so that thereby the king had sustained no small damage formerly through the decrease of certain farms by the deduction of allowances, gave order to the treasurer and barons of the Exchequer by the advice of his council that answer should be made to him in full for the two farms aforesaid, and also for as much as could be levied yearly of the profits of the county, no sheriffs being charged for more than they could levy thereof. By bill of the treasurer, . Parr I, 43